How To Clean A Empty Turtle Shell

NatalbanyTigerFan
LSU Fan
On the water somewhere
Member since Oct 2007
6989 posts

I caught a 60lb alligator snapping turtle on my trotline Saturday(he was dead or I would've cut him loose) and my dad wants to keep the shell to hang up in the boathouse.

What do I need to do with it to preserve it?

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OTIS2
LSU Fan
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
46856 posts

Maybe nothing? Maybe salt the inside, let it dry? Hell if I know.

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TexasTiger01
LSU Fan
Lake Houston
Member since Nov 2013
3214 posts

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QuietTiger
LSU Fan
New Orleans
Member since Dec 2003
25695 posts

re: How do I preserve a turtle shell? Posted by QuietTiger on 6/9/14 at 7:11 pm to OTIS2

quote:

Maybe nothing? Maybe salt the inside, let it dry?

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NatalbanyTigerFan
LSU Fan
On the water somewhere
Member since Oct 2007
6989 posts

quote:

You would have cut loose a 60lb snapper??? Man, we should all just sign up with PETA..

Didn't feel like cleaning if it was still alive too damn hot outside so I'm glad it was dead already!

Screw PETA!!!

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TexasTiger01
LSU Fan
Lake Houston
Member since Nov 2013
3214 posts

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cdaniel76
New Orleans Saints Fan
Covington, LA
Member since Feb 2008
19535 posts

quote:

NatalbanyTigerFan

Not to side track your thread, but how are you doing? I seem to recall you had a pretty major procedure recently?

Hope all is well... Obviously you're doing good enough to run some lines.

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BFIV
Virginia
Member since Apr 2012
5373 posts

20 Mule Team Borax. Scrape as much of the meat off the inside of the shell as you can off. Then liberally apply the borax to the inside of the shell.

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tenfoe
Member since Jun 2011
6119 posts

I give mine to an old lady who does it the way her daddy used to do it. The lady is about 70, so whatever method she uses is undoubtedly dated. I usually keep them in a freezer until I get 4 or 5, then drop off all at once. The deal is she gets to keep whichever one she chooses, and the rest she preserves for me. I give them as gifts and to school teachers. I usually bring her some deer or catfish too. She usually has cheesecake and Johnny Walker waiting on me when I get there. I will never give up her identify.

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BayouBrawl
LSU Fan
Junk Yard
Member since Aug 2012
1151 posts

re: How do I preserve a turtle shell? Posted by BayouBrawl on 6/10/14 at 7:08 am to tenfoe

DO NOT put it in an ant bed. The ants will eat the tendons that hold the scales to the shell. We used to use formaldehyde to dry, salt will work as well. Dry it and scrape all the meat off the inside. Then, use polyurethane to paint the shell, this will make it shine, as well as preserve it. I've done this for many many turtle shells. My dad has some that are over 30 years old that still look good.

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2indapink
Member since Mar 2012
541 posts

Clean as well as possible, use pliers to pull out the 'backstrap', apply mule team borax liberally into shell, let sit one week out of the elements, rub outer shell with 000 steel wool and water hose, spray on 2 coats of semi-gloss polyurethane.

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